ICPC Arraigns Woman for Forging Marriage Certificate, Visa Fraud
By Alabidun Shuaib Abdulrahman
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC has arraigned one Ms. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kubwa, for allegedly forging a marriage certificate and falsifying United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport stamps to fraudulently obtain a United Kingdom (UK) visa.
The Commission, in a statement on Tuesday signed by its spokesperson, Demola Bakare, said the defendant was arraigned before Justice Akobi on a four-count charge bordering on forgery and fraudulent use of forged documents.
The case was filed under Charge No. CR/577/25 — Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo (F).
According to the ICPC, the offences were committed around 2019 within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
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The prosecution alleged that Ms. Ojo forged a marriage certificate with registration number 024119/2017, purportedly issued by the Ikoyi Marriage Registry in Lagos, which she used to support her UK visa application.
The Commission also accused her of forging entry and exit stamps of the UAE on her international passport to bolster her visa application.
The statement read partly, “These actions are contrary to Sections 363 and 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation, which deal with forgery and the fraudulent use of forged documents.”
One of the counts stated that Ojo, “in 2019 or thereabouts, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, fraudulently presented as genuine a forged marriage certificate purportedly emanating from Ikoyi Marriage Registry, Ikoyi-Lagos, when she had reason to believe it to be a forged document.”
Upon reading the charges, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all four counts. She was represented by her counsel, C. A. Owo Ekele.
Lead prosecution counsel, Barrister Fatima Abdullahi, informed the court that the Commission was ready to proceed to trial and requested a hearing date.
The defence counsel, however, applied for bail on liberal terms.
After hearing both parties, Justice Akobi granted Ms. Ojo bail in the sum of ₦2 million, with two sureties in like sum.
One surety must be a public servant not below Grade Level 15, while the other must be a resident of Abuja with a family and own landed property covered by a valid Certificate of Occupancy within the FCT.
The sureties were also directed to attach copies of their passports and property documents for court verification.
Justice Akobi ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of her bail conditions.
The ICPC reiterated its commitment to working with embassies and international partners to tackle visa-related fraud and ensure that perpetrators of such offences face justice.
